Former First Minister Bows Out

Henry McLeish, the former First Minister in the Scottish Parliament resigned last November in the midst of a scandal over office expenses - described by McLeish himself as "more of a muddle than a fiddle". There has a been a continuing controversy over his decision to continue as a Member of the Scottish Parliament, with many former colleagues believing that his continued presence was an embarrassment. This week he eventually announced that he would not be standing at the elections next May. He has put his house in St Andrews on the market and there is speculation that McLeish may take up a lecturing role in the USA. McLeish has a great liking for the country, has made a number of friends in Oklahoma (including the former governor and head of the university in the state) and spends a lot of time there. He has said that he regards it as a "second home."

9/11

Next week, the thoughts of many millions of people around the world will be focused on the events of September 11 last year. But it will also be a time to remember the ways in which so many ordinary people responded in the aftermath of the terrorist atrocities by not only grieving but also in countless stories of human warmth and compassion. Here is just one example which was reported in the Scottish media (and was passed to me by the Robert Burns Club of Milwaukee). Jock Smith, who moved from a village in Clackmannanshire to Wisconsin in the US four years ago, was back home on a visit when the planes struck the Twin Towers and the Pentagon. At the end of that week, he was watching his local Alloa Football Club. On the spur of the moment, Jock asked the club chairman for a team shirt, signed by all the players, as a gesture of solidarity which the club could make to the American people. The chairman readily agreed - and added a bottle of malt whisky as well. Jock wanted to donate it to the Red Cross who were working so hard at Ground Zero but when he got back to the US, he was told the shirt would probably just get lost in the thousands of such donations which were flooding in and the Red Cross couldn't accept the whisky anyway. Undaunted, Jock contacted the organisers of a local "Cops for Kids" charity in Wisconsin which helps children of police men and women who are killed in the line of duty. After all, many police officers died in the September 11 attacks, so it seemed more than appropriate. The shirt and whisky have been duly auctioned - and the Alloa Football Team now know that they have helped in such a worthy cause.

Prince Edward Angers Western Isles

Islanders on the island of Eriskay are angry that the new causeway between the island and South Uist will be officially opened by Prince Edward and his wife the Countess of Wessex on September 11. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will be attending a memorial service that day but the choice of date for the opening of the causeway by Buckingham Palace has been described by Western Isles Council as insensitive. They have tried several times to get the date changed but with a full diary of engagements for the rest of the year, none of the Royals can provide an alternative date.

Parliament and Kirk Share Building Once More

The Scottish Parliament, which uses a building owned by the Church of Scotland while a new legislature is created at Holyrood in Edinburgh, will avoid holding plenary sessions during May 17 to 23 2003, thus allowing the church to hold its General Assembly, without having to decant to another location. The elections for the next Scottish Parliament are being held on May 1 and the parliament has 28 days to appoint a first minister and executive. This is likely to involve protracted negotiations, though another coalition between Labour and the Liberal Democrats is the most likely outcome. The MSPs will move into their new building in the autumn of 2003, according to the latest estimates.

Gaelic Campaigners Petition Parliament

Campaigners presented a petition containing 3,700 signatures to the Scottish Parliament this week, seeking a Gaelic Language Act and a dedicated Gaelic television station. About 125 demonstrators from a number of Gaelic organisations handed over the petition to John McAllion, the convenor of the Parliament's petitions committee. They carried placards, many in Gaelic, which few passersby in Edinburgh would be able to understand.

Rush Hour Gridlock

Road closures on the Clydeside Expressway and the King George V bridge over the river Clyde in Glasgow created gridlock at rush hours this week for motorists. The roadworks are scheduled to last for four months. A bus which broke down and traffic lights which failed, added to the chaos.

Waverley Bottleneck

The main railway station in Edinburgh will be effectively full to capacity when Virgin Rail launches its new CrossCountry services later this month. Waverley station has seen a 50% increase in the number of services operating from there between 1988 and 2000 and redevelopment of the Victorian station (it dates back to 1844) has been in the pipeline for many years. Plans by Railtrack in 1997 involved creating a 300,000 square feet shopping centre as a way of paying for the scheme although, due to planning constraints (and the nearby Edinburgh Castle), the proposed new building would be only six feet higher than the present one (and that increase raised the hackles of conservation groups). But constant delays now mean that when Scotrail and GNER bid to renew the franchise to operate their services, they will not know what kind of railway station they will be operating from. The Scottish Executive is again reviewing the requirements and there are no guarantees that the four-year construction period will begin as planned in 2004.

Appeals Against Parking Tickets Soar

The parking attendants employed in Edinburgh - known locally as the "Enforcers" - are being accused of being over zealous after a doubling of appeals against parking tickets and an increase in the number of complaints upheld by the Scottish Parking Appeals Service. There were calls for the council to re-examine its contract with Central Parking Systems who enforce the parking regulations. But the council has defended the company, saying that the number of successful appeals were a small proportion of the total tickets issued. Of course, the council is delighted with the increase of 73% in the cash raised from parking fines.

Scots Pupils Reject Science

The numbers of students taking courses in physics, chemistry and biology in the Higher examinations at the end of secondary education have dropped by 20% over the past five years as subjects such as business studies, computing, music and drama have become more popular. In 1997 there were 11,500 candidates in the three main sciences; in 2002 there were 9,500. The result has been that a month before the start of the new academic term, Scottish universities have vacancies on more than 600 science courses but only 150 courses in arts and social science subjects have places available. This is set against the background of the government's "smart successful Scotland" campaign. It is being suggested that school pupils believe it is easier to get a pass in a non-science subject and that the financial rewards are greater in areas such as financial services and the media.

Thousands of Light Bulbs Being Given Away

In an effort to publicise the benefits of energy saving light bulbs, thousands will be given away in exchange for old ones which will then be used by a local artist to create a giant sculpture. The Scottish Hydro-Electric company is donating 500 of the bulbs for the project. The energy saving bulbs use only 20 watts but give out the same light as a 100-watt bulb and can last for years.

Clash of the Titan

A massive "Titan" crane, which was built in 1911 at the shipyards in Govan on the banks of the Clyde in Glasgow, is the centre of controversy because of a move to demolish it. Opponents say that the A-listed crane is an important piece of Clydeside heritage. But the owners, BAE Systems, claim that it could prevent future development of the yard - although they have no immediate plans to demolish the 250-ton cantilever crane with its lattice girder tower. They say that they are merely applying to renew planning consent given to the yard's previous owner "just in case it is required." BAE say that the crane is currently needed for the construction of the Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyers. The City of Glasgow planning department reluctantly approved the application on the grounds that it should not inhibit the operation of the shipbuilding yard.

Gliders Drop in on Queen at Balmoral

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh watched from a window as three gliders which had run out of thermals in the skies above Royal Deeside, landed in a field near their summer home at Balmoral Castle. The Queen is reported to have been concerned for the safety of the pilots - but nevertheless had time to take photographs of the incident. The gliders were taking part in a competition run by the Deeside Gliding Club, based 15 miles east of Balmoral and it is not the first time that gliders have been forced to land in the grounds of the castle. The pilots were uninjured but did not see the Queen. Instead they were met by security staff and police.

£300 Million Gleneagles Development

A plan to create a huge new development next door to the famous Gleneagles Hotel and Country Club was unveiled this week. To be known as Gleneagles West it will have a 180-bedroom luxury hotel, an international standard golf course and 250 luxury houses with price tags of between £500,000 and £3 million. If planning permission is granted, the new complex will be managed by the existing 5-star Gleneagles hotel which first opened in 1924. It will be built on a 20,000 acre estate owned by a Dubai-based property group. Although separate from the present hotel, the new development will be seen as another aspect of the existing facilities. If it goes ahead it will be one of the biggest single tourist developments ever seen in Scotland and will create 1,000 jobs.

New Low-Cost Flights to Canary Islands

Loco Flights, a no-frills airline, has announced that it is to launch a weekly service between Prestwick Airport and Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Lanzarote from May next year. Fares will be up to a third less than comparable flights from Glasgow by scheduled airlines. "Loco" stands for Low Cost Operating Option. Departure times are being targeted to match timeshare villa and apartment changeover dates.

Scots are the Most Neighbourly

A nationwide survey has found that Scots know their neighbours better than anywhere else in the UK. On average, they could name over 15 of those living near them while in London that figure fell to less than five. The second most neighbourly regions of the UK were Yorkshire and Humberside.

Cigarette Factory Becomes Business Village

The former Wills tobacco factory, on Alexandra Parade in Glasgow, closed down in 1992. The art deco style building was used to film most of the indoor scenes in the movie "Trainspotting" starring Ewan McGregor. However, it has taken some time for the B-listed building to be redeveloped. But this week the £20 million "City Park" was officially opened in the huge building. It features a hi-tech business centre which will create about 2,000 jobs. The large distinctive red brick building will also house a gym, health and fitness centre, bar, cafe shop. Several hundred luxury flats are also being built on the site in the same style as the original building.

Council Stub Out Cigarette Breaks

Staff working for Edinburgh City Council will no longer be allowed to smoke outside council buildings near to the entrances. The move is designed to cut down on passive smoking and litter from cigarette stubs. Employees will have to wait for official lunch breaks before lighting up - away from council premises as existing smoking rooms in council premises are also being closed down. Anyone persistently breaking the rules, or leaving the workplace without permission, could face disciplinary action. The council employs about 18,000 staff.

But Us It Art?

Residents who overlook the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh have described a landscaped amphitheatre which has been constructed in the grounds of the gallery as more like a railway embankment than art. The householders also say that raised elements of the "Landscaped UEDA" mean that their view of the classical columns of the gallery has been obstructed. The project consists of a seven foot high "auditorium" of grassed steps with interlocking paths looking down on three crescent-shaped stretches of water. It is named after a Japanese scientist and the area is intended to be used by visitors to the gallery as a walkway and for picnics (when the weather is fine). Residents claim that local youths are using the grass banking as a skateboard park. The two-year project cost between £300,000 and £400,000.

1,000 Sightings of Big Cats

The group which monitors the sightings of large cat-like animals in Scotland says that the number reported is almost 1,000 this year. The big cats (which may be pumas, panthers or lynxes) are rarely captured and film evidence is sometimes of the "Loch Ness Monster" variety. But the animals have been blamed for the killing of turkeys, deer and ducks. The Scottish Borders area has become a "hot spot" for reported sightings.

Early Opening for Pubs

The JD Wetherspoon chain of pubs is planning to open its premises in Glasgow at 10am instead of an hour later as at present. Under the current licencing laws, they will not be allowed to sell alcohol but will provide coffee, food and soft drinks, in direct competition with the coffee bars such as Costa Coffee and Starbucks. The Crystal Palace bar in the city centre (pictured here) will be one of the locations which will be involved in the experiment. If successful, the group plans to bring the opening times forward again, to 9am. The Wetherspoon chain made a profit of £53.6 million last year and has been opening a number of "superpubs" to boost sales.

Save the Scottish Oyster

In the 19th century, oysters were so plentiful and low-priced that they were eaten by rich and poor alike. Scottish oysters, however, were famed for their superior taste, but over-exploitation and latterly pollution have almost wiped them out. The Firth of Forth used to be known throughout Europe as the centre of the oyster trade. Now there are notices warning people not to eat any of the shell-fish found in the area as it could make them ill. Currently, there are only a few viable colonies on the remote west coast sea lochs. But scientists now believe that the native oyster could be brought back from the brink of extinction and used to stock a new type of oyster farm. Scottish Natural Heritage have embarked on a study to see if oysters can be sustainably managed and could become an economic resource. The better flavour of Scottish oysters means that they cost £2 each compared to £1 for Pacific farmed oysters.

Weather in Scotland This Week

There was a bright start to the week, especially in the north-east where Aberdeen had nearly 37 hours of sunshine from Saturday to Tuesday. Later in the week, however, a number of weather fronts crossed over the country, bringing showers and some heavier periods of rain. Temperatures were also lower with Glasgow reaching only 15C (59F) on Thursday though 17/18C (63/64F) was the average earlier in the week in most parts.

This week's illustration of current flowers in Scotland is of one of the flowers in the rose garden at Laurieston Castle on the edge of Edinburgh.

Bank Refuses to Support Mary Slessor Foundation

In 1997, Clydesdale Bank (a subsidiary of National Australia Group) introduced a new £10 banknote which commemorated the life of the African missionary Mary Slessor. But the bank has refused to contribute to a campaign by the Mary Slessor Foundation for a youth education and medical project based at Slessor's former church in the Nigerian province of Calabar. The bank says that it does not meet its "funding criteria" because the work is being done abroad and has even refused to allow its branches to be used as collection points. Of course, Clydesdale Bank is well known for its low contribution to charity even in Scotland. Charitable donations made by the other three main banks in Scotland are each measured in millions of pounds. Clydesdale Bank no longer reports a separate figure in its annual report but used to contribute around £100,000 each year.

Scotland and the Faroe Islands

As noted in the Sports Section of this Newsletter, Scotland was playing the Faroe Islands on Saturday in their first group match for the next European Football Championships. Scotland has a long association with these remote islands, including a period of "occupation" during the Second World War. Although a Danish dependency, 480 Lovat Scouts were sent to the Faroes, as its sole protectors, on 23rd May 1940. The Lovat Scouts were originally a largely Gaelic speaking regiment, raised in the Boer War by Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat, from amongst Frasers and fellow highlanders. The force were sufficient to keep off the German forces though they endured heavy attacks by German aircraft (and shot down one Heinkel in the process). Several men were lost when their ship was sunk off the coast of the islands. On the plus side, many married Faroe girls and the pipe band is said to have improved immensely. They were relieved after 2 years by the Cameronians and the Lovat Scouts were then sent to the Canadian Rockies for mountain warfare training. Despite Scotland's contribution to their defence, the Faroese gave no quarter to the Scots in Saturday's game - see the report in the Sports section!

Rennie Mackintosh Tearooms to Reopen

A number of tearooms designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and which have been in storage for over 30 years are to be incorporated into a new £35 million museum telling the story of Glasgow's industrial past. They will be part of the new Museum of Transport to be built on the north bank of the Clyde on the eastern edge of the new Glasgow Harbour development. The new facility is scheduled to open in 2007. There are seven tearooms involved, each the size of a large lounge and they were built in seven different styles for Miss Cranston, one of Mackintosh's most important patrons who created the concept of tearooms for the middle classes in Glasgow in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. All the timbers, fittings and fixtures, fire surrounds and furniture were put into storage by the City Council. One of the rooms was recreated as the centrepiece of a Mackintosh exhibition in the city in 1996 before touring in New York, Los angeles, Chicago and Washington. Even without the enlarged Transport Museum, the Mackintosh rooms will create an international attraction.

This Week in History

• September 9 1513 - James IV killed in battle at Flodden Field, near Branxton, in the English county of Northumberland.
• September 9 1543 - Mary Queen of Scots crowned at Stirling Castle.
• September 9 1935 - Benny Lynch won the World Flyweight boxing title, defeating Jackie Brown in 2 rounds.
• September 9 1978 - Poet and Nationalist C M Grieve (Hugh MacDiarmid) died.
• September 10 1547 - English defeated Scots at Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, near Edinburgh.
• September 10 1771 - Birth of Mungo Park at Foulshiels, near Selkirk. He became an explorer and doctor who charted the course of the River Niger.
• September 11 1297 - Battle of Stirling Bridge, Wallace (as famously portrayed by Mel Gibson in "Braveheart") defeats Edward I.
• September 11 1700 - James Thomson, Scots author of "Rule Britannia", born.
• September 11 1997 - Referendum on Devolution which approved the creation of a new Scottish Parliament by a substantial majority.
• September 12 1715 - Jacobites defeated government forces at Battle of Sheriffmuir.
• September 12 1315 - Thomas Dun, a privateer from Scotland, sailed into Holyhead, captured an English ship and over-ran Anglesay.
• September 13 1644 - Battle of Aberdeen, in which the Marquis of Montrose captured the city.
• September 13 1645 - Marquis of Montrose defeated by Covenanters led by David Leslie at Battle of Philiphaugh.
• September 13 1938 - Birth of John Smith, politician and at one stage leader of the Labour Party prior to his death in 1994.
• September 14 1402 - Scots led by 4th Earl of Douglas defeated at the Battle of Homildon Hill by English army led by Percy 'Hotspur'.
• September 14 1580 - Birth of Robert Gordon of Straloch, Aberdeen, cartographer and rescuer of Thomas Port's original maps.
• September 14 1745 - Bonnie Prince Charlie, Charles Edward Stuart, occupied Edinburgh.

Britannia Makes a Profit

The trustees of the former Royal Yacht Britannia (which is berthed at Leith as a tourist attraction) say that they are on target to make a profit of £500,000 this year, despite the problems of the tourist industry. The move to a location beside Ocean Terminal, a £120 million shopping and leisure development, has reversed previous years of making losses. Visitor numbers are up by 20% on last year, reaching 300,000, and merchandising sales have also increased. Numbers have been helped by 40 cruise liners which have docked at the terminal since October last year. The surplus will be used for future maintenance on the ship.

30th Anniversary of "Scotland Today"

The Scottish Television news programme "Scotland Today" celebrated 30 years of being on air this week. There was a special anniversary programme to mark the occasion, with clips from telecasts over the years showing the changing format, technology - and hair styles, especially from Viv Lumsden. An early presenter was John Toye who anchored the show from 1972 to 1984, with more than 300 shows.. When it was launched, it was Scotland's first independent TV news programme created and broadcast from Scotland. People who started their careers with "Scotland Today" included Kirsty Young who now fronts the Channel 5 news programme, sports correspondent Jim White - and Gordon Brown, now Chancellor of the Exchequer but who worked as a researcher on the programme before becoming a Member of Parliament.

Glasgow Tower Closed "Indefinitely"

The Glasgow Tower, the 400 feet high landmark beside the Glasgow Science Centre, has been open for just 100 days since it opened (later than scheduled) last October. There have been problems with the lifts but six months ago it was found that the tower had broken one of its bearings - the entire tower rotates 360 degrees along its axis, so that it can always face into the wind. It is the only tower in the world to do this. Initially, the Science Centre were confident that the problem could be solved quickly but, after months of engineers working on the problem, the management of the centre admit that they have "no idea when it will reopen" and say that it is unlikely to be this year. Despite attracting 750,000 visitors since it opened last June, the Glasgow Science Centre has been struggling financially to keep its head above water. I had the opportunity to go to the top of the tower last spring, before the official opening and you can see the views of Glasgow from the top of the building here.

Connolly and Cruise in Martial Arts Movie?

There were newspaper reports this week that comedian Billy Connolly has signed a contract to appear in a martial arts movie as a side-kick of Tom Cruise. The film "The Last Samurai" is set in 19th century Japan and New Zealand, with Cruise playing the part of a US Civil War hero who falls in love with the Orient and is recruited to train the Japanese army to fight against the Samurai. Filming is scheduled to start early next year.

Dynamic Earth Quaking

There are concerns that the "Our Dynamic Earth" visitor attraction in Edinburgh, which was built with £34 million of public money, will have to close unless the City Council provides further financial assistance. Initially, Dynamic earth was proud of the fact that it was the only science attraction in the UK which broke even without subsidies. But this was due to being able to stage corporate events worth £650,000 a year - 35% of its revenue. Then local residents complained about the disturbance caused by loud music late at night and the council imposed a ban on music after 11pm. This resulted in the income from staging such events slowing to a trickle with many bookings being cancelled. The management of the venue are hoping that council officials will come up with a compromise solution which will help resolve the financial problems.

Lord Provost at Californian Highland Games

The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Alex Mosson attended the Highland Games in California organised recently by the Caledonian Club of San Francisco at Pleasanton Fairgrounds. The First Battalion of the Scots Guards were also in attendance this year. The games attracted an audience of 50,000 and are one of the largest Highland Games organised in the US.

Scottish Ballet Tours The Hebrides

The Scottish Ballet is bringing world-class performances to rural venues throughout the Western Isles from September 12 to 23. The unusual repertoire consists of excerpts from six different ballets, offering a blend of classical and contemporary dance. The main pieces are taken from the company's premiere of Robert Cohan's celebrated Tzaikerk, a lyrical dance for six women in long, floating dresses, and Five Brahms Waltzes in the Manner of Isadora Duncan, a piece inspired by the legendary dancer and her characteristic throwing of rose petals and trailing a pink scarf. 'Offenbach in the Underworld' is a superbly witty piece of fantasy ballet which features light-hearted comic dancing in which a couple's flirting escalates into a full-blown battle. The company is performing in Barra, Benbecula, Skye, Ullapool and Stornoway. For more information on the Scottish Ballet, visit www.scottishballet.co.uk.

The Anatomy of the House

This exhibition, which began at The Lighthouse in Glasgow and now reaches Ettrick Riverside in the Borders, comes as part of the Scottish Executive initiative to develop a deeper understanding of our built environment by taking a look at Scottish domestic design through the ages. Visitors are invited to step through large, free-standing boards which divide the space into five different types of domestic dwelling; croft, castle, settlement, suburban and urban. From crofts on the Isle of Skye to semi-detached terrace houses in Greenock, The Anatomy of the House explores the way in which architecture is influenced by factors such as function, farming, and even weather. It uses video interviews with both those who built the houses and those who live in them, and studies the challenges which face architects today - although many concerns, such as the maximising of natural light and space, are ongoing themes connecting the case studies which span over 5,000 years. The exhibition reaches Selkirk between 9 and 17 September.

The Isles Of Inspiration

Throughout the month of September visitors can find the work of four artists on display at the Shetland Museum in Lerwick, displaying their own interpretation of life on the Shetland Isles. Julie Wells' show contains lithographs inspired by her grandmother's snapshot album from the 1920's, portraying a more opulent, glamorous side of Shetland society. Aase Mari Bqkenes is a Norwegian artist who uses the diversity of island wildlife as the subject for her paintings. Martin Mullay is a native Shetlander who loves the colours and the ever-changing light effects on land, sea and sky. Finally, John Pedley uses his technological know-how to develop his very own brand of panoramic images. His large photographic colour prints are the results of his interest in computing and web-site design and his digitally-produced art works are also on display.

Sunday Football Results

Aberdeen 0 Partick Thistle 1
Celtic 2 Livingston 0
Dunfermline 0 Rangers 6

CIS Insurance Cup, First Round - 7 September 2002

Airdrie United 1 Elgin 0
Albion 0 Hamilton 1
Berwick 4 Arbroath 2
Gretna 1 East Fife 2
Greenock 2 St Mirren 3
Queen of the South 2 Forfar 0 (After extra time)
Queen's Park 1 East Stirling (After extra time)
Stranraer 6 Brechin 1 (After extra time)

BT Scotland Rugby Division 1 Results - 7 September 2002

Boroughmuir 44 Stirling County 7
Hawick 20 Peebles 28
Heriot's FP 13 Aberdeen 22
Jed-Forest 16 Currie 12
Melrose 30 Glasgow Hawks 3

League Tables

Little change in the Scottish Premier League from last Saturday as there have only been the games played last Sunday. Celtic are two points ahead of Rangers, with Hearts four points further back. Dundee United and Hibs share the bottom with three points apiece.
In the First Division, Falkirk are two points ahead of St Johnstone, with Ayr United four points behind Saints.
In the Rugby Division 1, Boroughmuir lead with ten points, one point ahead of Melrose.

Faroe Islands 2 Scotland 2

Supporters of the Scotland football team sometimes console themselves that with a population of only five million in Scotland, there is not the same number of talented players coming forward as can be found in larger countries such as Germany - or England. But that excuse wore somewhat thin on Saturday when the Faroe Islands, with a population of 50,000 (similar to the town of Falkirk) went 2-0 up at half time in the first leg of the European Cup tie. The Scotland team did manage to score twice in the second half (goals from Lambert and Ferguson) to salvage a point, though they gave the Faroese side plenty of chances to make the result even more embarrassing. Commentators used words such as "dire" and "lamentable" to describe a result which, though perhaps not the worst inflicted on Scottish fans over the years, must be pretty close. Like three years ago when Scotland drew 1-1 in the Faroe Islands, ruining any chance of qualifying. The international Faroe Islands team is made up mainly of part-time footballers who earn their living as fishermen and farmers. News announcers based in London managed - just - to keep a straight face as they reported the result on national TV.

Bank of Scotland Player of the Month

Hearts striker Mark de Vries has started his career at the Edinburgh club by being awarded the season's first Player of the Month Award. The Dutchman has scored six goals in five games, including a four-goal salvo in his first derby match against Hibs. Helped by his contribution, Hearts are now third in the Scottish Premier League.

First Managerial Sacking of the Season?

Tom Hendrie, manager of First Division side Saint Mirren, has been "requested to take leave of his duties" according to a press release issued by the club. But officials refused to confirm that it was a final parting of the ways. The manager has three years of his contract with the club still to run and it will now be up to the lawyers to thrash out a deal. St Mirren are currently 6th in the First Division and narrowly avoided relegation last season. Hendrie has been at Love Street since December 1998 and guided them to promotion in the Scottish premier League in 2000 but the side were relegated again after just one season. A number of the better players were sold during the summer to help the club balance the books.

Euro Final Earned Glasgow £25 Million

Staging the UEFA Champions League final between Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen at Hampden Park on 15 May generated over £25 million for Glasgow. Shops, pubs, restaurants and hotels all benefitted from the increased spending by fans attending the match. And the successful arrangements are believed to have enhanced Scotland's chances of staging the 2008 European Championships in a joint bid with Ireland. The local council staged a 24-hour football match in the city's George Square and a Fan Festival party when locals and fans from the two clubs partied together.

Record Loss for Rangers

after four consecutive years of poor financial performance, Rangers Football Club announced this week that it had made a record loss of nearly £32 million in the year to 30 June 2002. Last year they made a loss of just over £16 million. The net assets slumped from £62.4 million to £27 million with liabilities increasing from £77.3 million to £93 million. Much of the drop in value is due to the falling value of players and failure to reach the group stages of the Champions League.

Scotland Shirt for Sale

A football strip, worn by Ronnie McKinnon in Scotland's famous 3-2 win over England in the season after England had won the World Cup, is being auctioned later this month in a sale of football memorabilia. Also in the sale will be the cup medals won by pre-war Celtic player Jimmy Delanay. He became the only footballer to win medals in the domestic cup finals in Scotland, England and Ireland. Another unique item is a ticket for Celtic's European Cup Final win in Lisbon - the ticket was unused!

Final Bid to Win Back Olympic Medal

Alain Baxter and his team of lawyers argued this week at the Court of Arbitration for sport that he should win back his Olympic bronze medal. Baxter lost the medal when he tested positive for the banned substance methamphetamine. He has since argued that the substance came from a Vick inhaler which he bought in the US. The formula there includes a form of methamphetamine and is not present in the same product sold in the UK. It is further argued that there are two forms of the drug and the one found in Alain Baxter's blood is not performance enhancing. Some other sports bodies distinguish between the two forms but this is not done by the drug testing for the Olympics. Baxter successfully contested the timing of a three month ban by the International Ski Federation which means that he will be able to compete from the start of the new season.

Cairngorm Resort Wins Golden Ski Award

The Cairngorm ski centre near Aviemore has received the Golden Ski award, ahead of 200 other resorts, as the most improved European ski resort run by the "Good Skiing and Snowboarding Guide" . It is the first time that a British resort has won the award and there is no doubt that the controversial £15 million funicular mountain railway was a major factor. The centre had to fight hard through lengthy planning disputes against opposition from environmental groups.